NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland released the following statement in response to a report from Guttmacher Institute:

“The report from Guttmacher indicates that there are several factors in play in the reduction of the abortion rate, all of which politicians must take into consideration as they put together their legislative agendas for 2017. Increases in use of contraceptives, especially IUDs and other long acting methods has reduced the unintended pregnancy rate. On the other side of the coin you have the 18 dangerous restrictions that Kasich signed into law since he took office limiting access to care.
 
“As we move into 2017, politicians must not attack access to reproductive healthcare services by continuing efforts to defund Planned Parenthood or to roll back the gains we made under the Affordable Care Act. Time and time again, Governor Kasich and the Ohio legislature have put politics ahead of the health and wellbeing of women, with complete disregard for the impacts these policies will have. Congress and the Ohio legislature need to focus not on continuing these attacks, but on finding real solutions that improve health and improve a woman’s ability to make the best reproductive health decision for her.”

Report: U.S. Abortion Rate Reaches Record Low Amidst Looming Onslaught Against Reproductive Health and Rights

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Today, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court in a continuing effort to completely block abortion access in Northwest Ohio.

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland said: “Mike DeWine is putting politics before women health, just as he always does. Toledo’s last abortion clinic is a critical resource for women across Northwest, Ohio. His ongoing campaign to close Capital Care is a waste of taxpayer dollars and an effort to support an unconstitutional restriction on doctors. What is the point of having an attorney general in Ohio if he won’t recognize the law?”

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Myron Duhart and the 6th District court have each issued decisions granting Toledo’s last abortion provider the right to keep their doors open. Capital Care Network is fighting against Ohio’s medically unnecessary transfer agreement laws. Their case is supported by new legal precedent from the 2016 US Supreme Court decision, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. Despite the fresh interpretation of abortion rights from the high court, DeWine is continuing to spend taxpayer resources on appealing the case.

The Capital Care abortion clinic can continue to serve patients, according to a Sixth District Court of Appeals of Lucas County ruling. The facility is the only abortion clinic in Northwest Ohio. The ruling upholds a lower court decision halting orders from the Ohio Department of Health to close the clinic.

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland issued the following statement: “The US Supreme Court said if an abortion restriction is burdensome and does not improve care, then it is unconstitutional. Ohio’s transfer agreement requirements for abortion providers are burdensome and medically unnecessary. Today’s ruling is a common-sense decision, and protects the health of women across Northwest Ohio. John Kasich can appeal this if he wants, but he will lose. All 17 abortion restrictions he has signed into law have been purely political, and none have been based in medical science. Ohioans deserve access to safe, legal abortion care.”

Today, Lucas County Court of Common Pleas Judge Myron Duhart ruled that Governor Kasich’ scheme to abuse his regulatory authority is unconstitutional. Judge Duhart rejected the arguments made by Attorney General Mike DeWine. As a result, Toledo’s only remaining abortion clinic, Capital Care Network, will remain open.

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland offered the following statement: “Despite all the back-door deals, and shady maneuvering, John Kasich and Mike DeWine have failed in their crusade to effectively outlaw abortion in Toledo. This is great news for Toledo’s women and we congratulate Attorney Jennifer Branch, and the staff at Capital Care Network on their court victory today.

“The Ohio legislature and John Kasich ought to read Judge Duhart’s ruling carefully. They should remove the provisions that they added at the 11th hour that target abortion clinics in the currently proposed budget. These measures are also likely to be found to violate the due process rights of abortion providers and be found unconstitutional. It’s time for Kasich and DeWine to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on their personal quest to outlaw abortion.”

Ruling from the Honorable Judge Myron Duhart